Kevin Whitcher
Arsenal have had some mixed performances at Stoke in recent seasons, but as a rule, they have not been ones Gooners recall fondly. Too often, they have simply been outmuscled and left complaining about a lack of protection from the referee. Perhaps the early booking of Dean Whitehead early in yesterday’s fixture was a significant moment. Stoke still put in a few questionable challenges subsequently, but not as many as we have witnessed in the past.
However, Stoke’s opening goal was an example of how, at times, Arsenal are not quite tough enough in defence. Certainly, no-one is going to criticize either Vermaelen or Gibbs for their failure to outjump Peter Crouch but between them, they could have challenged the player in the jump enough to ensure he did not have such a comfortable header. Sometimes, you need to play the man rather than the ball.
Arsenal’s first half football was very good aside from this. They harried the opposition to force errors and created a number of decent chances. That only one was converted ultimately cost, as when the visitors were on top, they needed to capitalize. It was interesting to note how the balance of the team was different without Theo Walcott. It seemed a lot more even, with far more coming down the left hand side than is customary.
Gervinho had a busy afternoon, which encapsulated the good and bad of the player. There are moments where he turns on some magic, but ultimately, he seems to fail to make the most of the opportunities he works himself into. Some have argued that he needs more time to adapt to the English game, citing the example of Robert Pires. As it stands, this observer has him down as a serial waster of opportunities, and I am not convinced that is going to change. Four goals from 35 appearances so far this season is certainly a disappointing return for an attacking player.
It was a surprise to see Marouane Chamakh enter the fray as a substitute, but the manager may have been thinking of protecting the draw and his additional height when defending set pieces as the reason for his introduction. In attack he had little impact. I can see that Arsene Wenger wants to protect Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but the youngster has a natural strength which makes him different from most teenage prodigies. As a sub, he could have added some beef to the side and a bit of drive.
Still, before the game, most Arsenal fans would have settled for a point and it leaves the team’s fate in their own hands, even if Newcastle and Spurs win all of their remaining matches, thanks to the former’s defeat at Wigan. The thought of Chelsea winning the Champions League is not one I wish to contemplate, but if Spurs did finish fourth and then had to take part in the Europa League next season, it would soften the blow slightly. It’s an interesting dilemma that one. I wonder who Gooners will be rooting for in the final if that situation came about.
Arsenal’s priority is to take care of their own qualification, and if they show similar application to that they did at the Britannia Stadium, they should secure the necessary points. It is unlikely Spurs or Newcastle will win all of their remaining matches, but if they do, it will make the visit to the Hawthorns a nervy afternoon on the final day of the season. Hopefully it won’t come to that.
If Arsenal do finish third, many will see it as a vindication of a manager that a majority of the fans wanted to see the back of more than once over the duration of the 2011-12 campaign. What a strange season it has been.
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